Combination plastic and metal building construction



March 23, 1948 c. AUTEN 2,438,140

COMBINATION PLASTIC AND METAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 24, 1943 II E- 5 p5 K IN VEN TOR.

BY: Z

6 6 firmems'x meme Mai-Q23, 1948 COMBINATION ms'rrc AND METAL BUILDINGcous'rnuc rioni Claude I. Anton, Birmingham, Ala., assign orto TennesseeCoal, Iron and Railroad Company, Birmingham, Ala., a corporation oi.Alabama Application May 24, rats, Serial No. 488,248 4 Claims. ('01.189-34) 1 The present invention relates to a combination of metallicstructural supporting elements and non-metallic structural members suchas known 'forms of hardened plastics interengaged therewith. I

An object of the invention is to combine metallic supporting members andhardened, preformed plastic structural members in such a way that theycan be efiectively integrated in various types of building structures.

A further object 01' the invention is to combine preformednon-metallichardened plastic structural members with metallic supportingmembers in such a way that there is an interengagin overlappingconnection between the plastic structural members and the metallicsupporting members. The above and further objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from examination of the accompanying drawingsand consideration of the following description.

In the drawings:

. Figure 1 is a horizontal section through an upright structural supportand related enclosing elements combined with plastic structural memberinterlocked with the supporting member.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section illustrating a modification ofthe construction shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a horizontal section illustrating a further modification.

Figure 4 is a modification illustrating metallic upright structuralbuilding elements having flanged portions for engagement with groovesformed in the opposed edges of adjacent plastic panels.

Figure 5 is a view illustrative of upright metalribs 24 and 28 jointlyforming a groove 28. Sym-' lic structural elements having a portion of apreformed plastic structural element interposed therebetween, saidelement being formed with tongue portions for engagement with suitablegrooves formed in coacting panels.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating slight modificationsthereof.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1.numerals I0 and I2 represent upright metallic members having flanges I4and I6 arranged back to back, thus forming a supporting member ofT-shaped cross section. Juxtaposed to the flanged uprights there is apreformed, unitary plastic structural member indicated generally at I8and which is formed with leg portions 20 and 22 spaced apart asufficient distance to make a fairly snug fit with the exterior faces ofthe flanges II and it, which constitute the leg of the 'rshapedsupporting member. The leg 20 has projecting laterally therefrom spacedparallel metrically arranged on the other side of the center line ofthe\ member l8 are similar ribs 34 and 36 defining the groove 38. Fittedwithin the grooves 28 and 38 are suitable plastic panels 40 and 42 whichare adapted to form an enclosure for a building or the like. The plasticpanels and the member I8 are adapted to be formed by extrusion to theshapes shown.

In the modification of Figure 2, the plastic structural member 48 isformed with legs 50 and 52 embracing the flanges I4 and iii of uprightsI0 and I2. In this embodiment of the invention single ton ue-like ribs54 and 56 are interengaged with grooves 58 and 59 formed in the opposededges of panel members 60 and 62.

In the modification of Figure 3, a similar construction is illustrated,in which case the extensions 64 and 66 of the plastic struc'tural memberenga-ge' grooves 68 and 69 formed in the opposed edges of panels 10 and12. The panels in this form are so arranged that the outer portionsthereof are longer than the inner portions so that they substantiallymeet at the point I3, thus covering the extensions 64 and 66 while theinner portionsterminate at points 14 and 16 in close relation to theupright legs and TI.

In the construction of Figure 4, the panels and 82 are formed withgrooves 84 and 86 to receive the outwardly extended flanges 88 and 90 ofupright metal channel members 92 and. 94 arranged back to back,

In the modification of Figure 5, there is a substantially T-shapedplastic structural member having a web 96 disposed between a pair ofspaced upright metal angle members 98 and I00.

, Extending laterally from the web 96 of the plastic structural memberare opposite flanges I02 and I04 engaging grooves I06 and I08 formed inthe opposed edges of panels H0 and H2 to thus interlock the panels withthe plastic structural member.

The modification shown in Figure 6 is similar in many respects to thatshown in Figure 5, the chief difierence being that there is an extendedportion H4 between the adjacent inner edges of the panels H6 and H8.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3inclusive, 5 and 6, the upright metallic supporting member and theunitary preformed plastic structural member, are

all secured in assembled relationship by a suit-' equivalent connectionI20. In all of the embodiments of the invention illustrated it will benoted ber. The plastic structural members in some in-. stances, forexample, as shown in Figures 5 and 6,

are so arranged that they serve as a heat insulatin; medium between themetallic members and they thus inhibit the conduction of heat betweensaid metallic elements and the panels such, for

. example, as the panels 0 and H2.

The plastic structural members such as illustrated at l8 inFigure l andat 48 in Figure 2 and similar locations in the other figures are all vadapted to be preformed by extrusion. Similarly, the plastic panelsreferred to may have the described groove and special configurationsillustrated, formed therein by known methods of extruding plastics. Thevarious combinations illustrated and described can be readily andeconomically constructed and erectedand will be found in practice toserve their intended functions very effectively.

While I have described quite specificall the details and arrangements ofthe embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, it is to beunderstood that various modifications and rearrangements orsubstitutionsof equivalents may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departure from he invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a building including panels extending in substantially the sameplane and an elongated metallic supporting member of If-shapedcrosssection at the juncture of a pair of panels, means for joining saidpanels to said supporting member comprising a preformed unitary plasticstructural member having a longitudinal groove receiving the leg of saidmetallic supporting memcross-section having a flat leg at the junctureofa pair of panels, means for joining said panels to said supportingmember comprising an elona pair of panels, means for joining said panelsto said supporting member comprising an elongated preformed unitaryplastic structural member having a plane-faced longitudinal groove freeof re-entrant surfaces closely receiving the fiat leg of saidmetallicsupporting member, fastening means passing through the walls ofsaid groove and through said leg, and flanges defining channels onopposite faces of said plastic member,

said channels receiving the edges of said panels.

4. In a building including panels and an'elon- I gated metallicsupporting member of T-shaped cross-section having a flat leg at thejuncture of 'a pair of panels, means for joining said panels to saidsupporting member comprising an elongated preformed unitary plasticstructural member having a plane-faced longitudinal groove free ofre-entrant surfaces closely receiving the flat leg of said metallicsupporting member, fastening means passing through the walls of saidgroove and through said leg, the edge faces of said panels havinglongitudinal grooves, and flanges on opposite faces of said plasticmember received in the grooves of said panels.

7 CLAUDE I. AU'IEN.

REFERENCES CI'IlED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 479,275 Heywood July19, 1892. 1,677,650 Nelson a July 17, 1928 1,942,871 McDonald Jan.9,1934 1,945,124 Strauss Jam-30, 1934 2,103,407 Dean Dec. 28, 19372,189,137 Eichner Feb. 6,1940 2,233,335 Axe et a1. Feb. 25, 19412,294,556

Henderson Sept. 1, 1942

